Restorative Justice Fact File
Restorative Justice gives victims the chance to explain to offenders the real impact of their crime and to get answers to their questions. It holds offenders to account for what they have done, helps them understand the real impact of their crime, take responsibility and make amends. Restorative Justice really does have the power to change people’s lives by facilitating contact between a victim and offender in a safe environment.
A Restorative Justice meeting (often called a conference), includes support for both the victim and offender. A trained facilitator guides the participants in a dialogue about the crime and its impact. The facilitator ensures that each participant has a voice in the proceedings but doesn’t participate in the discussion.
Restorative Justice may be offered at any stage of the justice process. The Victims’ Code explains what support and information victims of crime can expect, from the moment they report a crime to after a trial has finished. It includes an entitlement for all victims of crime to receive information about Restorative Justice.
There are three basic requirements that must be met before a conference can take place:
Restorative Justice Works!
Many people find the idea of meeting or being in contact with a person who has committed a crime against them a strange one. At the same time however, many victims feel that they are left out of the criminal justice process altogether and don’t have the chance to convey their feelings and views.
Restorative Justice gives victims a voice and the opportunity to play a part in preventing others from becoming a victim of crime. Research funded by the Ministry of Justice has found that:
Restorative Justice Levels and Methods
![RJ Levels and Methods - final Feb 22[7325]_page-0001](https://www.restorativegloucestershire.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/RJ-Levels-and-Methods-final-Feb-227325_page-0001-1.jpg "RJ Levels and Methods - final Feb 22[7325]_page-0001")
